Making power explicit in sustainable water innovation: re-linking subjectivity, institution and structure through environmental citizenship

This article offers a new perspective on environmental citizenship by proposing the 'subjectivity-institution-structure' framework. Applying the framework to a sustainable water innovation project in north-west England, it argues that the meaning of environmental rights, the understanding of required environmental responsibilities, and the degree of public participation in decision-making, are shaped by individuals' subjective values, institutional arrangements and structural conditions. Our framework makes power explicit in the practice of environmental citizenship. It is intended to help set reasonable targets for sustainable development actions, which is particularly important when working with individuals with limited power.